iTHIRST Spiritual Companions
Addiction is a defining problem of society, with physiological, and mental health components that must be addressed. Ultimately, however, the desolation, the abandonment and the guilt which are all “hallmarks” of the addicted life are in many ways spiritual problems which require a spiritual remedy.
The iTHIRST online training seeks to provide this spiritual remedy to those with substance-abuse disorders through the development and implementation of programs designed to educate and prevent, to provide support to treatment facilities and those incarcerated, and to develop an aftercare community for the afflicted and their families.
The words “I thirst” were among the last words of Christ on the Cross, as well as the words painted in every Chapel belonging to the Missionaries of Charity, St. Teresa of Calcutta’s order. St. Teresa said these words are a reminder that the Missionaries were there to “quench the thirst of Jesus for souls, for love, for kindness, for compassion, for delicate love.”
The iTHIRST training will be taught by Keaton Douglas, founder of the iTHIRST initiative, which is an acronym for “The Healing Initiative—Recovery, Spirituality, and Twelve Steps.” The initiative seeks to give people in recovery the spiritual tools they need to stay clean and lead the faith-based fight against substance-use disorders, especially opioid use. It also educates the clergy and laity about substance abuse disorders so that the Church might be a resource for the afflicted and their families.
What is a Spiritual Companion?
To teach people in the Church how to better serve in these areas, Douglas developed the iTHIRST Spiritual Companionship training program, a 48-hour course with a curriculum peer-reviewed and academically certified by Seton Hall University. As a Spiritual Companion, you will provide spiritual consolation and recovery resource information to the afflicted and their families, and you will work with your pastor to develop (or supplement) a recovery ministry that fits the needs of your parish.
For more information about iTHIRST in the Archdiocese of Boston, please see these Pilot articles:
New Training Cohort Offered
iThirst’s Spiritual Companion program is a 48-hour interactive and engaging training program that will be offered remotely, so that you may participate from the comfort of your home. Participants will be academically certified through both i THIRST and Seton Hall University and will receive 4.8 Continuing Education Units.
This is a 10-week course. All sessions are VIRTUAL and will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm (Excluding Tuesday, July 4).
Start date: June 6, 2023. End date: August 8, 2023
Cost is $250 per person and includes a printed copy of the iTHIRST Spiritual Companionship manual, an important resource for those working in this ministry.
All participants must submit a letter of endorsement from their pastor that addresses their commitment to completing the training and being a resource to their parish.
To register, go to: rcabrisk.org/ithirst-registration
Questions: Call Madeline at 617-866-9942, or email Doreen.